Every year brands launch dozens of new rackets, each one promising to be different. I've tested hundreds, sold more than 400 through this shop and I coach players of every level in Bristol every week. The question I get most is still the same: which racket should I buy?
For 2026, my answer for most players is one of these two. Not a ranking of twenty rackets I've barely touched. Two rackets I'd recommend to a friend.
Why these two
Most rackets are built for one type of player. A round racket with a soft core suits defenders who want comfort, and a diamond with a hard core and the weight in the head suits attackers with clean technique. However, most of us aren't one thing: we defend, we attack, and we play on different courts with different partners.
That's why I look for the middle ground: a hybrid or teardrop shape, medium-high balance and a medium-high density core. On paper it doesn't sound exciting, but it's what lets a racket work across the whole court without forcing you to change your game. Both rackets below are built that way, with very different feels.
1. HOOK Solid H20 (£159)
Hybrid shape, EVA40 high-density core, 360 g, medium-high balance.
It's the racket I've recommended most over the last two years and the one I play with most of the time. What makes it different is the throat. Almost every racket has an open throat, and the Solid has a closed one, with HOOK's Close2Hand system. That makes the sweet spot bigger, and in this way it compensates for the dense core, which on its own would feel demanding whenever you don't hit the ball cleanly. You get the control and feel of a hard core without losing margin.
The result is a feel and a sound I haven't found in any other racket: a clean, solid contact that tells you straight away whether you've hit it right. It suits intermediate and advanced players who want control and feel but still want power on overheads.
One thing to know: this is the last batch. HOOK isn't making more of this version, so when it's gone, it's gone.
2. Starvie Astrum+ 2026 (£124)
Teardrop shape, M-Eva Balance core (medium-high density), medium-high balance.
If I had to recommend one racket to most of the players I coach, it would probably be this one. The teardrop shape sits between round and diamond, so you get some extra power on overheads without losing manoeuvrability at the net. The core is dense enough to be precise but less extreme than the Solid's, so it forgives more when your timing isn't perfect.
It won't be the most powerful racket on court, and it won't offer the tightest control either, but it gets close on both. It also has vibration dampening in the frame and in the handle, which you notice at the end of a long session. It works at almost any level: a player in their first year will find it comfortable, and a league player will find it precise.
Which one to choose
| HOOK Solid H20 | Starvie Astrum+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Shape | Hybrid | Teardrop |
| Core | High density (EVA40) | Medium-high density |
| Feel | Crisp and precise, lots of feedback | Comfortable and forgiving |
| Best for | Intermediate to advanced | Almost any level |
| Price | £159 | £124 |
If your technique is developed and you want more feel and feedback, go for the Solid. If you want something comfortable from the first session, you're still building consistency, or you're buying for someone whose level you don't know, go for the Astrum+. It's also the better option if you want a racket that grows with you.
You won't make a wrong choice between them. The difference is in the feel at contact, not in the shots they let you play.
Before you buy any racket
I see a lot of players buy rackets they're not ready for. A hard diamond in the hands of someone still learning to position themselves only makes the game harder, and the extra power never shows up. Choose the racket for the player you are now.
If you want the full process, I explain it in how to choose a padel racket. And if you're still not sure, send me a DM on Instagram @padeldrive, tell me how you play and I'll tell you which one makes more sense for you.
Gonzalo